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Northern Star (1837-1852), 30th March 1850, Edition 1 of 3, Page 5, Untitled Article

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    • ^^^~— tiOHIES RECEIVED For the "Wibk Esdixg Thuesdat, JUabch 2$, 1850.
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      Untitled Ad

      THE HONESTY FUND . Received by W . Rideb . —J . Cook , Shincliff Colliery 2 d—Temale Democratic Sick Society , Keijihley . per J . F . Ectlesi'J 9 s—P . Sumerton , Leamington 3 d—Cotlial Mills , uaar Aberdeen , per L . Fraueisiis—Juliustoa , per J . Mll'ludl 6 *_ VV . ltalston aud J . Yerner , Glasgow is- ^ a . tew Friends , Jorsr icKpcr J . Fos Gs—Mansfield , i « r C . CalerlUTs Gd—Eaddi . Tt ; Bridge , per V . Allen 4 s 3 d—Long Buckljj , per J . Cooper 5 s Cd—a Four-acre Shareholder , Birmingham , per J . l' « su"ee 5 s—V > * - Brov . ii , . Birminsliam , P * rJ . 1 ' earee 3 s—3 . Gott . Birmingham . perJ . Pearce Is—W . Summerfieia , Bimundiam , per J . Pearce is—Belmont , per T . Walton 8 s « d—Ovendon , near Halifax , per W . KuilMvorth 7 s idladv ? liip . Xortboivran , near Halifax , per \ Y . Saville Cs 3 d —I ) . * Fiyer , Hilton , near Leeds 2 s—J . Bed « vell and Mrs . Beilneli , Brieriev-fcill is—Junction , Saddleworth 6 s—a few Friaids , JErfield , near Dewsbaiy 10 s—Sootliill , uear Bailey , per A . Simpson 6 s 6 d—a few Land Members ,

      Untitled Ad

      PflOSPHOROES v . Rits . —A correspondent of the «**"< fener s ChrmicUcommunicates a notable method ™ destroying rats , by means of a phosphoric com-POiUid , to be prepared in the following proportons :-Procure cf lard or dripping a quarter of a pound , of phosphorus one drachm , of spirit of wine one gill : place the whole of these in a pint wine uottle , thoroughly cleansed previous to use . This snonld be covered , up to its neck , or Tather middle , "Jt-l hot water , which may be managed by putting and i Ue * nto a sanceP ! la deep enough to hold it ; j ™ uy gradually heatinf the water . When the *•— ° . driDninff is dissolved , remore the bottle

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      ~ Di sposed by Lord , Duscaw . A Select 5 ? , nittpfi to inquire into the salaries and K ! nl of offices , ielddnringthe pleasure f the Crown by members of either House of Snment , voted in the annual estimates—SfSiea of j udicial offices , in the supenor ^ 3 Law and Equity-the retiring pen-KZ Plotted to the Jot « es , and the expenses SL lomatic Establisb-nients charged upon Consolidated Fund . This seemingly ^ Lnin- ' and comprehensive inquiry is to be vcd for bj the Premier himself ; whether X the view of staving off the question in the rnume of ultimately entombing , itinamige ? w Bt ok , or Trith a sincere determination to ffict all practicable reductions under these ftfr rema ius to be seen . We confess , thus Tnokiu" at the manner in which , at the very j -i nfmient , ho pushed forward a bill to fix " Lord CiJffBEii ' s salary at the same amount fb at paid to Lord DEXMAX , and to exclnde

      TTpjain Joun from the operation ot the jnauh-y ' , we have small faith in the honesty of the ' Proposer . The -wax on the seal of the C ommission of the New Chief Justice was scarcely cold , when this proposition was made , and it was put forward , iu defiance of repeated previous assurances that the salary should be open to revision as well as all others . It seems tote Lord Campbell ' s luck tohring his party in to serapes by these rank jobs ; and we can , iherefore , scarcely wonder at the quixotic zeal exhibited by bis silly son , whenever an opportun ity offers , in the defence of the party , and the abuse of the " Democratic element . "

      jlr . Mi £ S ER Gibson promises a discussion ontUe Taxes on Knowledge , on Tuesday , the 16 th April ; and , on the same day , Mr . C « 'LET means to propose the repeal of the Halt Tax . Sir De Lact Evaks gives notice of oncof these small sham measures of enfranchisement for -which that tinkering politician is so ve ! l known , to the effect , that parties shall tare the vote who have resided twelvemonths in the same premises , and paid Income and Property Tax—or who have paid Toor Kates as occupiers of premises , of the net annual rake of 5 / ., or who have a certain amount of deposit in the Savings Bants . Mr . W . J . Tnv - 5 Education Bill is to be opposed by the

      Protectionists , Mr . STAFFOHD-one of Mr . Disiueu ' s lieutenants—having on the paper a notice to throw it out . Mr . Evakt will make his motion for the abolition of Capital Pnniahmeuts , with the usual result ; and Mr . DisKAEU promises to call the att » ntion of the House to the Diplomatic and Consular ser-TiceB , with a view to their more economical and efficient performance . Carrying out the policy of the Peace Society , Mr . Cobden is to move , tuat Lord Paimerston shall enter into negotiations with foreign Governments for a mutual reduction of warlike armaments ; and Mr . Osborse gives notice of a motion for the abolition of the Property Qualification

      for Members of Parliament . Such , are a few of the more prominent questions , gleaned from the voluminous notices bequeathed by onr legislators , for the amusement or consideration of the recess . Everybody will admit there is sufficient variety in them , at all events . There will , no doubt , be plontr of " talk ; " but what will be done ? Vith the "Whigs in office—NOTHING . mm

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      LETTERS TO THE WORKING CLASSES . T , TYXT . " Words are things , and a small drop of ink Falling—like dew—upon a thought , produces That which makes thousands , perhaps millions think . " bieos . " MEASURES OF REPRESSION . " Brother Proletarians ,

      Being unwell—and , consequently , in anything but the humour for writing—I would tiave given my pen a week ' s rest , but that I consider it indispensably necessary to at least take notice of the proceedings of parties in France , since the date of my last Letter . Any apology for again directing your attention to French politics cannot be needed , seeing that , just now , every other , subject is insignificant by the side of the great drama of which France is the theatre . I was in error in stating , in my lust Letter , that the seats contested iu the recent elections numbered twenty-eight—the number was thirty-one . The Reds returned twenty-one ,

      The Ordermongers have declared the election of the representatives for the Saonc-ct-Loire void , on the ground of an alleged irregularity . It is asserted that , in certain districts , a considerable number of electors whose names appear on the lists for 1850 , but not in those of 1849 , took part in the ballot ; while , by a previous decision , it was determined that the elections of the 10 th of March should take place on the lists of 1840 . The number ot such electors amouut , according to the calculations of the Prefect ; of the Saone-et-Loire , to about 6 , 000 ; but the majority of the Democratic candidates amounted to 1 G . 558 ; and ,

      supposing that the whole of the 0 , 000 had taken part in the ballot , and that they all voted for the Democratic lists ( neither hypothesis being very probable ) , it would leave a majority considerably exceeding 10 , 000 votes , in favour of the Democratic candidates . In former cases , when Royalists had obtained seats under similar circumstances , the Assembly voted the -validity of those elections . J ^ ou % however , that Democrats were t © be sacrificed , the majority , to effect that object , coolly set aside its . own precedents . The truth is , that not the alleged irregularity , but the fact that the Saone-et-Loire bad elected

      six Reds , was the motive for the vote of the Ordermongers . By that vote , citizens Madier de Montjau , Esguiros , Charassin , Buvignier , Charles Daiu , and Victor Hennequin , have , for the present , been deprived of the power conferred on them by the people . But their exclusion from the Assembly can only be for a few weeks . The Saone-et-Loire is too intensely Red to allow the Royalists any chance

      of . a victory . It is well known , that had the Socialist-Democrats put forth their whole strength in the late election , their majority would have been nearer sixty than sixteen thousand . Put upon their mettle by the unjust and insulting decision of the legislative majority , the Reds will , of course , take good care to ensure the triumph of their candidates , all efforts of the Ordermongers notwithstanding .

      The " measures of repression , " relating to the press and electoral meetings , were laid before the Assembly on this day week , March 21 st . By the first of these measures , it is proposed to be enacted , that the proprietors of'journals or periodical publications" shall be hound to deposit with the treasury a sum in specie of 50 , 000 francs , caution mouey , for daily papers ; 40 , 000 francs for papers published twice a week , and 20 , 000 francs if published onl y weekly , or at greater intervals . This last clause is designed to catch such publications as Louis Blanc's Nouveau Monde , which is

      published monthly . In a few of the departments sums lower in amount are proposed for the several daily and other journals . By the same bill it is proposed to enact , that the several journals , &c , in the principal departments shall be subjected to a stamp-tax of four centimes on each impression . The proposed law will include all " periodical writings treating of politics or economic-social sub jects , " and published in numbers of less than ten sheets of impression . Engravings will be

      included ; it having been fouud that prints of all kinds have been employed , with great effect , in propagating the principles of Red Republicanism . Publications not complying with the proposed law may be seized . Offenders to be fined at the rate of 50 francs for every unstamped sheet , and 100 francs on a repetition of the offence . The responsible editors , authors , writers , and distributors of the Said journals to be held conjointl y responsible for the fines imnosed .

      Having in my lastLetter so fully commented on the villanous motives and treasonable objects of the projectors of this new scheme to fetter the press , I shall offer no further comment on the measure itself other tban to bid the reader mark the distinction made between periodical publications ( not newspapers ) intended for the people , and those published under the patronage of the rich . Bulky Reviews , written for , and bought by , the wealthy , will escape the tax ; while monthly magazines , of the character of Louis Blanc ' s Nouveau Monde , written for , and , to a great

      extent , bought by the wealth-producers—who , unhappily , are not consumers , as well as producers—will be subjected to the tax . From the first clause to the last the measure is devised for the purpose of perpetuating ignorance , and preventing the progress of enlightenment and true civilisation . Its authors dare to denounce the Socialists as "barbarians , ' * while it is patent to all the ¦ world thai the Ordermongers . desire , before all things , the conservation of ignorance—the last prop of barbarism . That prop is , however , crumbling away , and ere long—in spite of caution-mo ^ ney and taxes—the preponderating majority of the French people will be thoroughly enlightened as to their own inte

      rests , and , being so , will bring to a conclusion the reign of those polished barbarians , and gilded savages , who have built up their wealth and power by speculating in the sweat and blood of the unhappy millions . Buonaparte , Barrot , Thiers , Guizot , Montalembert , Changaruier , and the classes they represent , are inadequately described by the title of "barbarians , "' " savages ; " cannibals is their proper designation . The food they eat , the wine they drink , the garments they wear , the mansions they inhabit , the luxuries of every description they enjoy , are theirs only because the producers and useful workers are robbed , starved , used-up , and no , not

      murdered" They die so slowly , none dare call it murder . " Excepting , indeed , when driTen to despair , the unfortunate sufferers precipitate themselves against the cannon and bayonets of the possessors of property ; and then only a few dare breathe the charge of " murder" against the conquerors . The blatant brutes of the " respectable press , " so far from having a word of pity for the victims , hail their defeat and destruction with poeans of exultation . The people beaten and " mowed down in masseB " their Swiss of the press immediately pour forth their rejoicings that " society is saved , anarchy is crushed , and order established ' . " ' Te 3 , the " order" of victorious brigands , " Who make a solitude , and call it peace . "

      The second measure introduced by the Ministry proposes to prolong the existence of the gagging law , relating to the clubs , and to extend the same to electoral meetings . Both measures were discussed in the bureaux of the Assembly on Saturday last . Baroche , Minister of the Interior , avowed , that the measure affecting the press , was intended to put down the Republican journals . Speaking of the electionsof the 10 th of March , be asserted , that trade had , been stopped , ship-

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      ments , suspended , and orders countermanded , in consequence of the results of those elections , and that the press had kept up the public alarm . Baroche well knows , that if any alarni has existed , it has been excited solely by the Government journals He added , that ' people spoke of moderation and conciliation , but such means would not succeed An these times , and stringency was necessary . ' A lesson to be remembered by the veritable Republicans when they shall arrive at power Very foolishl y the people tried » conciliation " and "moderation ; » and we see the results Baroche repays the people with " stringency .

      • ' We tlmnk thee , Jew , for teaching us the word . " In the struggle now , and henceforth , " farewell , a-long farewell" to sentimentalism and Lauiartine ' s " balmy balderdciah . " Amongst the supporters of the government measures , Mole and Thiers distinguished themselves . The Ordennongers were , however , not unanimous . Larochejaquelin , the Legitimist ; Gustave de Beaumont , the Qrleanist ; and other members of the two Royalist factious , opposed the Stamp , &c ., on the ground that the proposed exactions would kill a number of the journals devoted to " Order . " The

      measure was opposed b y Cavaignac and Lamartine , who , of course were taunted for their inconsistency , having themselves established precedents for the present proceedings of the government . Lamartiue delivered one of his dreamy orations , iu the course of which he defined Socialism to be " a nightmare , a momentary maduess , " having its source in "ignorance . " The remedy , he added , was "light , reason , and discussion ! " Methinks I hear our enraptured sentimentalists and political humbugs exclaiming : — "How . true ! how poetical ! how wise ! how beautiful !!! " Let me add—how absurd ! There is no truth more

      indisputable than that Socialism and ignorance can have no connexion . "Without pretending to pi each the infeillibility of Robert Owen , or Pierre-Leroux , Consideraut , at Louis Blanc , there can be no question that their place is in the first rank of the representatives of intellect and champions of knowledge . But it may bo said , " admitting the mental powers of the leaders , their followers are ignorant ; for none but the ignorant would accept their theories . " Another mistake , or , rather , misrepreseutation . Wherever ignorance abounds Socialism either has no existence , or if a few cling to the proscribed creed they do so , at the peril of

      their interests—their safety—their very lives . The progress of Socialism is the best possible proof of the intellectual advancement of the people . J ^ bue but thinkers can be Socialists , and thinkers are not the men to abandon themselves to the influence of dreams , nor are they likely to be carried away by any fit of midsummer madness . Lamartine may assure himself that no men were ever more thoroughly iu earnest , than those who laid down their lives in the June Insurrection , and those who returned Carnot , Vidal , and De Flotte , to the Legislative Assembly . The first fought and died , the second voted and

      live , —to establish the Social Eepublic . If , indeed , Socialism , instead of being a mighty fact was but the phantasm of a sot of enthusiasts and fools , Lamartine's remedy"light , reason , and discussion , " would , no doubt , be found efficacious in dispelling the delusion . But , precisely , because Socialism is a fact—the great fact of this epoch—Lamartine ' s " remedy " is calculated only to advance the " disease . " All that the Socialist Democrats ask for , is the liberty to shed abroad the "light" of their principles ; to be permitted the employment of unfettered " reason "

      iu propagating their views ; and to be allowed to combat their opponents with the weapons of free " discussion . " They know that by such means they could triumph without ever again having recourse to muskets and barricades . And Baroche , ThierB , and Co ., know the same . They are not blinded by the fine words of Lamartine . They very well comprehend the character of the Socialist movement ; and , therefore , they say— " away with the right of discussion ; stringency , aud repression , are the only means to save ' society ' ' '—meaning by that term the system by which they are enabled to maintain their homicidal

      supremacy , at the cost of the rights , the happiness , and the lives of the great majority of their fellow creatures . Let no man be alarmed at , the word " Socialism . " Let no man , who desires his own social emancipation , allow that , or any other word to stand in the way of the duty lie owes to himself and his fellow men—that of investigating the causes of Labour ' s wron » s , and ascertaining what are Labour ' s rights . The social question is of paramount importance , and to its consideration every true reformer—every earnest : and energetic friend of progress , will devote bis untiring attention .

      To come back to the measure affecting the French Press ; there can be but little doubt that that measure will pass , notwithstanding the hostility of even the " Moderate" journals . It ; is anticipated that while some , of the cheap Socialist journals yrill be crushed , a good many of their Conservative rivals will share the same fate . The combatants Will be fewer , but the fight will not be the less earnest . The result may be safely anticipated . The stamp and excessive caution-money ( 80 , 000 francs ) did not save the government of Louis Philippe , nor will such means prevent the downfall of the present tyrants . The bill to abolish electoral meetings meets with the almost unanimous support of the ordermongers . So much the better . So flagrant a violation of a right proclaimed sacred by the constitution cannot but add immensely to the popular hatred of the government , and must vastly accelerate the grand

      overthrow . It appears that , besides the measures affecting the Tress , and forbidding electoral meetings , Buonaparte and his Ministers have six . other bills in readiness , relating to the Suffrage , Foreign Refugees , the Transportation of Political Offenders , &c , &o . "As matters are as yet , " says the correspondent of the Times , "the Government cannot exactly shoot every man who writes in favour of Socialise doctrines ; " hence these " measures of repression" constitute the onJy feasible mode of " arresting the evil" of Red Republicanism . It is evident that the Times man does not yet despair of having the pleasure of narrating the events of a new St . Bartholomew , to be got up by tho " friends of order . " The editor of that paper , however , is by no means sanguine that the shooting system would be a very safe game for the enemies of the Re public . Having misgivings as regards the "fidelity " of the army , the Times implores the "Moderates " to study moderation , (!) and entreats the " friends of order" not to rush into violence !! This is exceedingly amusing , nnd speaks vsluhies for the fears of the anti-democratic conspirators . L'AMI DU PEUrLE . March 28 , 1850 . ' id — ^

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      New Regulations respecting Metrofolitah Public Carriages . —The new act of parliament respecting metropolitan public carriages , vyhich will come into operation in a few days , was issued on Wednesday . By this act the office of Registrar of Metropolitan Public Carriages is abolished , and a saving of £ 1 , 400 a year will be effected . The Commissioners of Police are to discharge the duties hitherto performed by the registrar without any additional salary . There is power given to pay retired allowances to officers whose situations may be abolished or " superseded" under tho provisions of this act . The Commissioners of Police may appoint standings for hackney carriage ? , and make regulations respecting the same , as also enforce order at every standing . This act , which is to commence

      and take eifecfc from the 5 tb of April , is to be construed as one with the 6 & 7 Vie ., cap . 8 G , for regulating hackney nnd stage carriages , and all the > rovi 8 ions of that act are extended to tho present 1 iw . One of the Commissioners of Police may d isobars © tho dutiea transferred . The licenses respecting metropolitan carriages , drivers , and conductions expire on the 5 th of April . Mr . Pbsibekion , who had been for many years attached to her Majesty ' s Treasury , has retired from the public service ; and the other office held by that gentleman—viz ., agent for the Russian-Dutch Loan—has been abolished by the Lords of the Treasury . We also understand thai it is not their lordships' intention to fill up the vacancy occasioned in the office by Mi-. Pemberton ' s etircment .

      Bbewersin the United Kingdom . —On Wednesday a return to parliament was printed , showing ¦ hat On tho 10 th of October last there were 2 , 507 brewers m-the United- Kingdom , comprising 2 , 257 ir England , 154 ln Scotland , and 96 in Ireland They consumed in the yew 1 , 8651 , 052 bushels of malt .

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      ¦ NATIONAL REFORM LEAGUE . In commencing his usual weekly lecture in the John-street Institution , On Friday last ,- Mr . B . O Bneiv the president of this association , congratulated himself on being able to give his audience another proof of the progress which the doctrines of the League were making : he alluded to the hearty ^ 1 " ™™^ i ^ T ' which those doctrines Swk # M t- I ( vr S assemblage called together by _ the Nat . onal Regeneration Society , at the . institution , m Leicester-square , on Saturday "S f Tb * t society having invited public didcubsions . for the laudable purpose of elloitinjr the b . e ? t P lans to wimoTing pUrty , paup rismf and crime , he had felt it his duty to attend their meetings ; and , after due notice , t . n n ^ rmum ! in f-. lin

      part . es present the principiosoflho National lleiorm League as the onl y substantial basia for national regeneration . He did not mean to say that all those who were at the great meeting on Saturday agreed to those princi ples , although they might applaud them at the time : many swallowed them as Wttcr pills—as nauseous medicine , taken to cure real or apprehended disease . He had lonff felt thoroughly convinced that th » present evils ' of society could be cured by nothing short of a radical reform m the existing laws upon land , credit , currency , and exchange ; and this truth all parties , sooner or later , would bo compelled to acknowledge Unless our neighbours , the French , come to tlio same conclusion , torrents of blood would again be

      shed in that convulsed nation . The lecturer then wont on to say that for wnnt of a correct knowledge ot the universal principles of economical and social science , the revolution of France had not yet begun ; and that the mere change in tho pmowl Of the govcrament which the people in that country had ettoeted , bad strengthened , instead of weakened , the arms of despotism ; and had increased , instead ot diminished , the miseries of the people . Mr . 0 Brwn then entered , in detail , upon the circumstances attending tho recent elections in France , and upon the abominable overt and secret acts , by which the government vainly hope to strangle democracy . He maintained , tho base bourqwisie , or middle class , were the main abettors of the

      barbarous system of persecution now going on in France —those kind of . people who cared not how much the producing classes suffered , so that the fivo per cents could be kept from fluctuating much below par ; and so long as they could buy the produce of labour cheap , and sell it dear . He again repeated whathe had often uttered before—the merchant class were the deadliest enemios the working classes had ever known ; and to talk of other enemies while that class possessed its present power , w . is mere declamation , and deceived the people . Wliafc Was tllO USO Of going about the country proclaiming that the poor were too poor , and tho rich too rich , without proposing an adequate remedy for the evils deprecated ? Where was the good of

      newspapers , like the Dispatch , giving long Jeremiads about the abuses of Church and State , without showing what relation such abuses have , or have not , to the distresses of the people ; or of merely running down one humbug by running up another humbug ? Would tho Dispatch show us how those 160 poor Wiltshire labourers , who struck work the other day because their grinding employers wanted to reduce their wages to aix shillings a week , were to be relieved from such diabolical oppression ? We all know that six shillings a week was nothing less than slow murder—even an American nigger earned , more than that by working over time . There was undoubted authority for the statement that many a nigger in America kept a horse for his own use , and that many saved from £ 10 to £ 20 a year , to expend in mere luxuries . And yet , in this free country , many agricultural labourers were

      unable to earn more than six shillings a week—or £ 15 12 s . a year—working every day ; and if they attempted to combine with thei v fellows , to protect themselves against this monstrous injustice , warrants were issued for their apprehension , and the police and military were put in requisition against them . Vague declamation , then , upon party questions—upon priestcraft , aristocracy , government expenditure , taxation , &c—was a waste of time and effort , because it left unscathed tho horrible monsters which profltism , landlordism , and usury , had now become . After some further exposures of the ravages of these monsters , Mr . O'Brien concluded by reading the following resolutions , which had been unanimously passed at the meeting of the National Regeneration Society before referred to , nnd which would be found in their printed report of the debates : —

      " 1 . A repeal of our present wasteful and degrading system of poor laws , and the substitution of a just and efficient poor law ( based upon the original Act of Elizabeth ) which shall centralise the rates , and dispense them equitably and economically for the beneficial employment and relief of the destitute poor . The rates to be levied only upon the owners of every description of realised property . The employment to be of a healthy , useful , and reproductive kind , so as to render the poor self-sustaining and self-respecting . Till such employmenb be procured , the relief of the poor to bo , in all cases , promptly and liberally administered , as a right , and not grudgingly doled out , as a boon . The relief not to be accompanied

      with obduracy , insult , imprisonment in workhouses , separation of married couples , the breakingup of families ,, or any such other harsh and degrading conditions a 3 , under the present system , convert relief into punishment , and treat the unhappy applicant rather . is a convicted criminal than as ( what he really is ) tho victim of an unjust and vitiated state of society . " : . " 2 . —In order to lighten the pressure of rates , and , at the same time , gradually to diminish , and finally to absorb , the growing mass of pauperism and surplus population , it is the duty of the government to appropriate its present surplus revenue , and Hie proceeds of national or public property , to the purchasing of lands , and the location

      thereon of tho unemployed poor . The rents accruing from these lands to be applied to further purchases of land , till all who desired to occupy land , either as individual-holders or industrial communities , might be enabled to do so . All such lands , and the rents payable thereupon , to be ever after the inalienable property of tho State , and to bo appropriated ( in lieu of the present taxes ) to defray the expenses of the public service , tho construction of public works , the education of the population , and all other such useful purposes and public functions as arc now provided for out of the revenues annually raised by taxation . A general law empowering parishes to raise loans upon the security of their rates , would greatly facilitate and

      expedite the operations of government towards this desirable end . " ¦ ' 3 . Pending the operations of these measures , it h desirable to mitigate the burdens of taxation , and of public and private indebtedness upon all classes who suffer thereby—the more especially as these burdens have been vastly aggravated by the recent monetary and froo trade measures of Sir liobert Peel . To this end , the Public Debt , and all private indebtedness affected by tho fall of prices , should be equitably adjusted in favour of the debtor and productive classes , and tho charges of government should be reduced upon a scale corresponding with the general fall of prices , and of wages . And , as what is improperly called the " National Debt , " has been admitted , in both Houses of Parliament

      to be in the nature of a bona fide mortgage upon the realised property of the country , it is butstiict justice that the owners of this property , nnd they only , fthould be henceforward held responsible for both ca pital and interest . At all events , the industrious classes should not bo held answerable for it , seeing the debt was not borrowed by them , nor for them , nor with their consent ; and that , even had it been so , they have had no assets left them for tho payment oi it , Moreover , the realised property of this country , being estimated , at eight times the amount of tho debt , the owners or mortgagors have no valid excuse or plea toioffer on the score of inability , for refusing to meet the claims of their mortgagees . " ¦

      " This meeting is of opinion that , in addition to a full , fair , and free representation of tho whole people in the Commons IIoubo of Parliament upon principles the same , or similar to those laid down in the People ' s Charter —( great applause )—the following measures-somo of a provisional , the others of a permanent nature , are necessary to ensure real political and social justice to the oppressed and suffering population of the United Kingdom , and to protect society from violent revolutionary changes . " 4 . The gradual resumption by the Stato ( on the acknowledged principles of equitable compensation to existing honors , or their heirs ) of its aicient , undoubted , inalienable dominionand sole

      , proprietorship overall the land ? , mines , turbaries , hshenes , &c , of the United Kingdom and our colonies ; tlie same to be held by . the State as trustee , in perpetuity , for the entire people , nnd rented out to them in such q uantities , and on such terms as the law and local circumstances shall determine ; —because the land , being tho gift of tho Creator to all , it can nevor become the exclusive property of individuals—because the monopoly of the land , in private hands , is a palpable invasion of the rights of tho excluded parties , rendering thorn , more or less , the slaves of landlords and capitalists , and tending to circumscribe or annul , their other rishta

      and liberties—because a monopoly of the eart ' j by a portion of mankind is no more justifiable than would betho monopoly of air , light , heat , or waterand because the rental of the land ( which justly belongs to the whole people ) would form a national fund adequate to defray all chnrgos of the public service , execulo all needful public works , and educate the population , without the necessity for any taxation . ; -:. " 5 . That , as it is the reqogniged duty Of tho stato to support all those of its' subjeoSs who , from incapacity or misfortune , are unable to procure their own subsistence ; and as the nationalisation of landed propertywould open up now Bources ofOO *

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      cupationfor the nowisurplus industry of the people ( a surplus which is daily augmented by the accumulation of machinery in the hands of the capitalists ) the same principle which now sanctions a public provision for the destitute poor , should be extended tb the providing a sound system of National Credit , through which any man might ( under certain conditions ) procure an advance from the national funds arising out of the proceeds of public property , and thereby be enabled to rent and cultivate land on his own account , instead of being subjected , as now , to the injustice and tyranny of wages-slavery , ( through which capitalists and profltistsare enabled to defraud him of Jiis fair recompense ) , or being induced to become a hired slaughterer of his

      fellowcreatures at the bidding of godless diplomatists ; enabling them to foment and prosecuto international wars , nnd trample on popular rights , for the exclusive advantage of aristocratic and' vested interest ** * The same privilege of obtaining a share in the national credit to be applicable to the requirements of individuals , companies , and communities in all other branches of useful industry as vrell as agriculture . " " 6 . That the National Currency should bo based on real , consumable wealth , or on tho bona fide credit of the Stato and not upon the variable and uncertain amount of scarce metal ; because a currency depending on such a basis , however suitable in past times , or as a measuro of value in present interuatior . iil commerce , has now become , by the

      increase of population and wealth , wholly inadequate to porforni tho functions of equitably representing and distributing that wealth ; thereby rendering all commodities liable to perpetual fluctuation in price , us those metals happen to be more or less plentiful iu any country ; increasing to an enormous extent the evils inlicrent in monopoly and usury , and in the banking and funding systems ( in support of which a legitimate function of the law—the protection of property—is distorted into an instrument for the creation of property to a large amount for the benefit of a small portion of society , belonging to what are called vested

      interests ;) because , from its liability to become locally or nationally scarce , or in excess , that equilibrium which should be maintained between the production and CO"sumption of wealth is destroyed ; because , being of intrinsic value in itself , it fo 3 ters a vicious trade in mouey , aud a vulnous practice of commercial gambling and speculation ; and , finally , because , under the present system of society , it has become confessedly the ' root of ail evil , ' and tho main support oi that unholy worship of Mammon which now so extensively prevails , to the supplanting of all true reli gion—natural and revealed . "

      " 7 . That in order to facilitate tho transfer of property or service , nnd the mutual interchange of wealth ' among the people ; to equalie the demand and supply of commodities ; to encourage consumption as well as production , and to render it as easy to sell as to buy , it is an important duty of the State to institute , in every town and city , public marts Or stores , for tho reception of all kinds of exchangeable goods , to be valued by disinterested officers appointed for the purpose , ' either upon a corn or a labour standard ; the depositors to receive symbolic notes representing the value of their deposits : such notes to be made legal currency throughout the country , enabling their owners to draw from the public stores to an equivalent

      amount , thereby gradually displacing the prosent reckless system of competitive trading and shopkeeping—a system which , however necessary or unavoidable in the . past , now produces a monstrous amount of evil , by maintaining a , lavge class living on the profits made by the mere sale of goods , on the demoralising principle of buying clicapaild Selling dear , totally regardless of the ulterior effects of that policy upon society at large , and the true interests of humanity . " H It is not assumed that the foregoing Propositions comprise all the reforms needed in society . Doubtless there are many other reforms required besides those alluded to ; doubtless , we want a sound system of national education for youth , made compulsory upon all parents and guardians ; doubtless , we require a far less expensive system of military and naval defence than now obtained ;

      doubtless , we require the expropriation of railways , canals , bridges , docks , gas-works , water-works , < fcc . ; and , doubtless , we require a juster and more humane code of civil and penal law than we now possess . But these and all other needful reforms will be easy of accomplishment when those comprised in the foregoing propositions shall have been effected . Without theBe , indeed , justice cannot be doije to humanity ; society cannot bo placed in the true path of improvement , never again to bo turned aside or thrown back ; nor can these natural checks and counterchecks be instituted , without which the conflicting passions and propensities of man fail to produce a harmonic whole ; but with which , as in tho material world , all things are made to work together for good , reconciling man to his position in the universe , and exalting his hopes of future destiny . " The reading of the above propositions was received by the meeting with much applause .

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      Brighton . —The following petition was forwarded to Captain Peehell for presentation . " To the Honourable the House of Commons , tho Petition of the Undersigned Members of the National Land Company , residing in Che town of Brighton , ' Sheweth , —That your petitioners liavo heard with sorrow and indignation , statements made to your honourable house by a part of the Allottees of Minster Lovel , Oxfordshire , that they have been ill-treated and deceived by the promoter of the Land Plan ; Feargus O'Connor , Esq . " " That your petitioners know the statements made by three of the allottees to be false . Letters have been received in Brighton , from John Havne , shewing that he was doing well ; he also stated at a meeting of the members since his ejection , that ho

      could obtain a living on his allotment ( phree acres , ) but weuld not pay his rent to Mr . O'Connor . '' That your petitioners have seen letters from Anron Rose , ( who had purchased stock , and right of location , from a former occupant for £ 70 , ) that he was obtaining a good livelihood . His father , on showing letters , expressed himself , with tears of gratitude in his eyes , the pleasure lie felt—stating at the same time the utter impossibility of his son doing so well in Brighton . " That your petitioners have seen it stated in the public press—and such statement has nevor been denied—that James Beattio , a four-acre allottee , has sub-let three acres of his land , from which the said James Beattie obtains more rent by £ 1 per year ( receiving the rent six months in advance , ) than ho is charged ^ by Mi * . O'Connor on behalf of the

      Company . " That your petitioners have no reason to be dissatisfied with Mr . O'Connor ' s management of the Company—the power being placed in his hands by a full representation of the whole of tho mombers ; the funds and property belonging to the Company we consider to bo in honourable hands . " That your petitioners have abundance of evidence in the neighbourhood of Brighton , and other sources , to prove that the Land Plan is perfectly practicable , which we . ire willing to produce to your honourable house if required . "That your petitioners hope your honourable house wi'l assist Mr . O'Connor to obtain the legalisation of the National Land Company , your petitioners being aware that -Mr . O'Connor has spared neither his tune or his money to accomplish that object . " Ana your petitioners will ever pray .

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      THE HONESTY FUND . 10 FEAROUS 0 ' CONNOB , ESQ ., M . P . ItEsr-ECTED Friend , —You will find enclosed a post-office order for £ 2 3 s . 4 d ., made payable to William Rider . The money is to defray the expenses of the late action against Bradshaw , the proprietor of the Nottingham Journal , and W 0 trust you will accept the above sum as a debt due to you for your past exertionsin the causeof honesty and freedom . We hope every town and hamlet will do their utmost in supporting you against all such slander , vituperation , and calumny . On behalf of the Liversedge subscribers , I remain , yours truly , In the cauEe of Democracy , Hightown , March 25 b £ J . C . Swauow .

      TO FEARGUS O CONNOIt , ESQ ., M V . Dkah Honoured and Respected Sin , —Wo , the Land members and Chartists of Gorgie Mills , cannot find words sufficient to express our feelings of good _ wishes towards you , knowing the debts' of gratitude we owe you for the super-human exevtiona you have made , in defiance of every danger that threatened your lifo and ltberty , to emancipate our order , politically and socially , from the thraldom of oppression . Wo cannot find words comtemptiblo enough , for the treatment you have received at tho hands o ( a dastardly few of the allottees , whom you so diligently laboured to servo ; having taken them from tho hot beds of disease , poverty and crime ; from the polluted atmos pheres of towns ; from

      the will and : caprice of thoir task-masters ; and placed them in happy homes away from tyrant capital ; and yet for all this , they have recompensed you by joining in league with a dastardly set of ruffianly scribes—employed , no doubt , for the occasion—to malign your character . But , thank God , they failed in their unjust design . Your character for honesty is unimpeachable . Tho cause has gained by it , as we confidently assure you , that we know that those who were your enemios before are now your friends . Wo are extremely sorry to see that you have boon compelled at last to wind up the Company . But who ia to blame ? Not you , dear sir , government for refusing to register ; and lastly , the but th » members , by not paying up their shares ; conspiracy entered into by a' f « w of the located

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      members themselves against you . . because you would not allow them to play the fradulent part they intended , in not payisg the Company ' s just demands ( their rents ) , whose means were the cause of obtaining for them such rural felicity . Dear sir , as a proof of our regard for your sterling , patriotic , and B "'' jwthropic worth , wo enclose a post-office order tor . fifteen shillings and sixpence , as our first remittance to the " Honesty Fund . " Tn ii , f' dear sh > ' y ° urs respectfully , m behalf of the Land Members and Chartiats of this place , r ™"' ° ™™ l E , j ames Ciialmehs , Alexander M ' 0 ok * u > , John Lbjimok , Gorgie Milla , March 25 th .

      Ti e T 0 -, r ? C 0 SS »« i ESQ ., M . P . Dkar biR , —We have not forgotten you , although late in remitting our portion , viz' i \ to the Honesty Fund . Chartism ami the Land ia not dead at Devonport . iherc are several who wero very energetic in the cause a short time since ; but from the apathy of their own order ( the working classes ) and dreaded persecution of their employers , ( Whims ' , Tories , &c . ) , the organisation is broken up for the present . We hope the limo is not far distant when the banner of tho " Charter and No Surrender " will asain bo unfurled at JDevonport to brave the hatlle and the breeze . A few Old Guards and

      Land members have felt it to be their duty to fly to your rescue , and add their mite to assist in relieving you from your presont embarrassment . Our confidence in you and the Land Pian is not diminished but strengthened , and wo sincerely hope that from the wreck of the present Company , one will be established tbnt will bid defiance to its enemies , and realise the object so devoutly wished for by you and the Old Guards of Devonport . On behalf of whom I beg to submit myself , ¦ ¦"¦ Yours faithfull y , Bovonport , March 26 . ' James Rogers .

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      BRITI 8 H | COLLEGB OF HE ALT IT , Kew ltOAD , London . TUE CASE OF ANN HBRUITX , AXD MKS . SFilY AKI > MRS . DOKB . The case of Ann Merritt is somewhat similar to that of His . Spry and her daughter , Mrs . J ) ore , only not quite so conclusive—botli however have nearly gone to the public scaffold through- the ' guinea-trade' geutlcmen ! ! At this extraordinary crisis in medicnl jui'isprudeuoo we think n is most important to reconsider the case of Mrs . Spry and her daughter . It was on Tuesday , the 29 th of August , 1848 , that these unfortunate but highly respectable women wot charged capitally before Mr . Baron Flatt , at the Central Criminal Court , with the wilful murder ot their child by arsenic—the coroner ' s jury having , vjjoh the evidence ot the ' guinea-trade gentlemen , ' returned a verdict of wilful murder' against them . But what do you think , gentle reader ? why it turned out that so far from these poor -women having anything to do With the ar .-iC !) iC , it had been by some mistake or other ~ iven by the medical

      g attendants themselves . 1 'lie doctors , as usual , began quarrelling , upon which , Baron Platt , with considerable warmth , said , 'tJieywere nOtUttmg there to jutlify medical men , huttoiustifv the poor women at the bar . ' and they were of course at once acquitted . Now we should state , that immediately upo . i theiv acquittal , Mr . Spry and his wife called at the British College 01 Health , aild infol'med Messrs . iloi-lson that he had been either page or butler to his Koyal Highness the Duke of Gloucester , and that he was then living with Mrs . Spry and Mrs . Dore his daughter , at No . 4 and 5 , Lower Grosvenorplace , Piinlico . That the charge brought against the women had nearly been the cause of the death of one of them , and that altogether they had been put to the expense of 20 IH . in defending themselves from this odious charge of murder by arsenic , supported by the quinea-trade

      aentlemen . ' Messv 3 . Monson navised Mr . Spry to memoralise the Secretary of State for a return of the 2001 ., and offered Hieir services in endeavouring , in case of tho claim not being attended to , to bring the matter before the House of c ? i nrao "s by petition ; and further to head a subscription With lut . on their behalP . Upon this Mi-. Spry went away , having taithfull y promised to return , but from that day to this we have not seen him or the women . Now we ask this question—has there been a compromise between ant OF THE AUTHORITIES Oil ANS OTIIEll PAMV and mb . spbv oa lire WOMEN , EVmEUmKEOTLT OK INDIRECTLT , WITH RESPECT TO tub 200 J . on any part of it ? If so we can only say that it is a disgraceful compromise , because such a case , involving the public security , should have been exposed , as it deserved ; ifithndhoeiiexposed , Aim Memtt would not haves been convicicd .

      l'hanks to tho Daily News , AnuMemttfe life is saved ; but why is she not immediately restored to her poor children % We trust her Majesty will immediately issuo her free pardon and set her at liberty—for iviio can fathom the anguish ofiniud which the poor creature must have endured ? We are ol opinion that the Editor of the Daily News i entitled to the thanks of the nation for his noble conduct ia the case ; but as regards the way in which that expression should be carried out we leave to more able and influential hands than ours . This case of Aim Merritt ' s should be a caution to all persons not to buy arsenic for any purpose , whether of destroying rata or otherwise , for if a party taking the poison , evea accidentally , wero ; o die , nnd \ uuuekuy belonged to a burial club , or had at sirne time or other taken arseni " medicinally , " ( which , according to M . Itnspnil , would appear on a post-mortem examination . ) such persons stand a good chance of being tried for wilful murder and executed , provided the ' guinea-trade Kcntlemen' will only swear pretty confidently . By the bye , this , analysing of stomachs must not be a bud trade , provided you can net plenty of it 'They manage these things differently in France . ' What

      would such amim asOrfilaor Raspail think of a country like England leaving these important questions , whereon depend life or death , to a parcel of twopenny-halfpenny doctors , whose only recommendation is the humbug piece of parchment which they carry in their pockets ' . Why does not the government appoint men of undoubted science to attend to these matters , and not let the remuneration in suoh cases depend upon the number that the party can manage to scrape together ; this is , we emphaticuliy declare , a disgrace to this country . The lives of the people are actually placed in the power of these ' gutnea-trade gentlemen ; ' and provided they come armed with the miserable humbug of a diploma , no one , not even the most acute Judge , is to question their evidence , but they swallow all that they tell them as Gospel . Oh ! Oh ! What , pray , would have been the fate of Mrs . Spry and her daughter , if Baron Platt had not questioned pretty severely the ' guinea-tradegentlemen ?' Therefore , Sir , we repeat it conies to this , that so long as doctors themselves use nnd patronise these deadly poisons as medicines , or ' medicinally' as they call it , it Trill be IMPOSSIBLE to tell who has been FELONIOUSLY

      or MEDICINALLY murdered ! !! und the innocent will be made to suft ' er for the guilty , as wo predicted many yearf ago . One would suppose frorathe stressNvhich is put OH arsenic , that it is the only poison in existence , whereas there are fifty others in all chemists' shops , ten times more subtle and d ' eadly , to bo had for the mere asking iiud paying for—poisons which leave no trace Mi ' aicl them , and therefore eannot be detected . At present when a party dies from any of these poisons , given me"dieinally , lio ii said by ths ' guiuem-tvade gentlemen' , € o have at-ii of a particular disease ! but let the peopM possess the same knowledge of tUeselpoisous as they n / w do of ars « mic , and where , let us ask , is the tribunal tl yft will bo competent to deal with such cases ? Doctors themselves are eonstautl * recommending arsenic , ' medicinally > even ; cholera > ' Well , when the patients die , jf is called disease ! in the other ease it is culled toilful fjturder . ' let therefore the peopl * arise from their letha ^ y and inquire for thwnse ' lves into this truly momentous matter .

      As to the lie , tha wicked lie , that these deadly chomicalt ave necessary m medicine , we have only to asK this question i How comes it that hundreds and' thousands tni'ougkout the world who for j ears had tried aU these poisons of doctors , without avail , have been restored to health by the simple mesas of the Vegetable Universal Medicine ? ThepoiMus only surve as props to tie ' iruiaeatyade , ' and to keep people In the dark . ¦

      National Naira Ttrompani

      national naira ttrompani

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      March 30 , 1850 . n ^ ttE : / NOIlllBERN > OTAR 5

      ^^^~— Tiohies Received For The "Wibk Esdixg Thuesdat, Juabch 2$, 1850.

      ^^^~— tiOHIES RECEIVED For the "Wibk Esdixg Thuesdat , JUabch 2 $ , 1850 .

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      TO FEAJICUS O ' COSSOR , ESQ ., M . P . Esteemed Fribsd , —If 7 o , your political admirers , residing in the village of Kingstown , ' near Carlisle , in public meeting assembled , horoby tender to you our heartfelt thanks fov your indefatigable exertion ? , in behalf of tho toiling , enslaved , and oppressed millions of this country ; we view with honest indignation the base and cowardly attack which has been made upon your reputation , by that weekly progeny of lies , the Nottingham Journal

      ami can assure you that we yet retain full confidence in your political integrity , and if ever we entertained a doubt on the subject , the fiery ordeal you li .-ive gone through has completely removed it , fol you have come through' tlie fire " like gold that has been seven times purified . " As an irrefragable proof of our attachment to the principles which you unswervingly advocate , vre enclose a post-office orderto the Honesty Fund , for the sum of £ 2 5 s . 9 d ., fondl y hoping that other localities " will go and do likewise . "

      Hoping that you may live to see your labours crowned with success , is the sincere wish of your democratic brethren . Signed in behalf of the meeting , John Scott , aChirman .

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      50 MR . WILLIAM RIDEB . Sir , —Enclosed you will find 10 s ., -which I desire to contribute to the " Honesty Fund , " towards reimbursing Mr . O'Connor the heavy liabilities contracted in his consistent and persevering advocacy of the cause of labour against the tyranny of capital . Though not myself—in the strict sense of the word —a labourer , ( my daily bread being earned rather by . brain-sweat than by brow-sweat ) , I entertain a sincere sympathy for that class , which the iron despotism of capital , under the present vicious and unholy system , continually grinds and impoverishes ; and I have watched with no little interest and anxiety the progress of Mr . O'Connor ' s admirable scheme for relieving the surplus of the labour market by the natural and legitimate means of tht land . Alone and unaided , he has fought with a gant ' s strength the combined power ef the whole

      army ot ulood-sucKers and capitalists ; and though , for the present , his efforts appear to be paralysed , by the wicked and artful contrivances of his enemies , be assured that the inherent justice of the cause he has undertaken will—must ensure a speedy triumph . Under these circumstances it is the bounden duty of each and all to assist , to the utmost of their power , the champion who has shown himself ever ready to sacrifice self to the interests of the oppressed workers ; and , I trust , that your columns will show , weekly , an increasing amount , until the whole of the debtis liquidated . My means are , unfortunately , far more circumscribed than my good wishes ; but I promise to send you another 10 s . the first week that the subscriptions in your paper exceed £ 50 . I am , sir , your obodienfc aorvanfc , Fiat Jusiitia , London , March 27 , 1850 .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 30, 1850, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1567/page/5/